The All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in Rivers State has voiced firm opposition to faction leader Tony Okocha’s ongoing attempts to suspend fund allocations to the state’s 23 local governments.
Daily Post reported that Emeke Beke, Rivers APC Chairman, expressed dismay at Okocha’s persistent resistance to a legitimate court ruling, which previously nullified Okocha and his caretaker committee’s leadership role.
In a statement, APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju emphasized that Okocha’s continuous appeal to the party’s leadership disregards the court’s decision. Nwauju stressed that “APC cannot continue to take a backseat to political issues that impact the people of the state.”
He criticized Okocha’s court filing as a direct attack on the livelihoods of thousands of Rivers residents who depend on local government structures for their survival.
“It is shameful that Okocha and his friends who do not believe or respect the judgment of the High Court… have been openly boasting of getting judgment… in Abuja to stop allocations to local governments in Rivers State, thereby frustrating thousands of Rivers people whose livelihood… depends on the local government system,” Nwauju remarked.
He also called on the judiciary to maintain its independence and resist becoming an instrument for political interference.
The Rivers APC reiterated that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) acted within its mandate to conduct local government elections on October 5, 2024.
Nwauju emphasized, “Electoral bodies are expected to be independent and must have the spine to resist meddlesomeness from the courts.”
He referenced both Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act, which restricts courts from halting INEC activities, and Section 60(2) of the 2018 Rivers State Local Government Act, asserting the legitimacy of RSIEC’s recent actions.
Additionally, he highlighted the Supreme Court’s previous rulings on the autonomy of local governments, recalling a 2004 case in which Lagos State successfully defended its right to local funds.
The Rivers APC contends that ongoing litigations serve personal agendas rather than democratic progress.
“We know for sure that the flurry of litigations is purely for selfish reasons and not to deepen our democratic process,” Nwauju stated, suggesting that the appointment of electoral body members be reformed to ensure political impartiality.